can someone explain the extraction of carboxylic acid from phenol in steps in a lab setting (t-butylmethyether is the solvent used). Please explain how to precipitate the the component from the aqeuous layer and at what steps it should be cooled in an ice bath. Thanks
To a mixture of carboxylic acid and phenol in t-butylmethylether, add aqueous NaHCO3. Bubbles are relesed of CO2 from NaHCO3. Carboxylic acid reacts with NaHCO3 to form sodium carboxylate and goes in water. Separate the aqueous layer from organic layer using separatory funnel. Acidify the aqueous layer with concentrated HCl while cooling in ice-water bath. Carboxylic acid reprecipitates out of aqueus solution which is then filtered and washed with more ice cold water before drying in air and/or oven. The previous organic layer is evaporated to recover phenol.
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